GRAND TERRACE - Plans to open the city's first high school by the beginning of the 2011 academic year will not be met, the company responsible for building it told the school district last week.

District officials said they do not know how far behind schedule Grand Terrace High School has fallen. Representatives of the company, Vanir Construction, referred questions to the district.

It's unclear what effect that will have on students, said Katie Orloff, spokeswoman for the Colton Joint Unified School District.

"That's something we're going to have to discuss starting with that special meeting (between Vanir and the new school board) next month," Orloff said. "There are a lot of answers we don't have at this point, but we're working toward that."

Roger Kowalski, the newly elected board member whose area includes Grand Terrace, said the revelation was disappointing.

"People have been waiting a long time for this," Kowalski said. "I'm sure there are a lot of people that are really and truly looking forward to the opening of a new high school, and now we have to wait for we don't know how long."

Soon after the groundbreaking ceremony in May 2009, heavy rains stopped construction.

Builders tried to overcome that and other early delays, but recently determined that even partially opening by August was impossible, according to Jaime R. Ayala, assistant superintendent of the district's business services division.

Those early setbacks should have forced an earlier announcement, according to Ed Gregor, a former member of the oversight committee for the taxpayer bond that paid for the high school.

"I think the existing school board members knew this wasn't going to be done on time, then they hid it until after the election," Gregor said.

Bloomington High School Principal Ignacio Cabrera reported in August that Grand Terrace High School would be opened in 2012, according to the minutes of a Bloomington High School site council meeting.

Cabrera was not available Tuesday to clarify his comment, which district officials said they were not aware of.

ryan.hagen@inlandnewspapers.com, 909-386-3916


Gramps Thinks:

In a era of slow construction there is no reason or justification that a properly managed project like a high school complex could not be built on time and on budget. This project and the management of it clearly has been problematic from the start including the land purchase deals between the RDA and CJUSD.

But, like with many of the left over Schwab Era projects we are faced with how do we get it finished and working for our city and the CJUSD. This is a CJUSD project and the School Board is the proper forum to address on these issues. Please consult with them at their next meeting. Citizens need to hold the CJUSD Board accountable for the actions of CJUSD Employee's Management and Negotiations.

Rain, is not a sufficient reason for a schedule slip. Rain Days should have been calculated into the schedule.